Business casual style guide for women: 22 outfit ideas

The business casual dress code for women strikes a balance between professionalism and a more laid-back approach. When thinking of outfit ideas and matching colors for women's business casual attire, the line between casual and formal gets more blurred.

If you're working from home, you still need to dress in the morning in order to feel your best and take on the day. This work-from-home capsule wardrobe will give you plenty of ideas for that.

The business casual dress code: capsule wardrobe example

In this video, we will talk about the business casual dress code, the difference between formal and casual styles, and take a look at another wonder wardrobe example for work.

What clothing to choose for a business casual style?

Let’s start with shirts, blouses and sweaters.

The business casual dress code offers flexibility to wear formal or laid-back blouses, shirts, sweaters, sleeved tops, polo shirts, and turtlenecks. Just remember to keep your tops from being overly flashy or extravagant, as they might not fit the business casual vibe. Feel free to pick unique prints or hues for your pieces, but steer clear of choices that clearly don't mesh with the business casual atmosphere.

Feel free to incorporate tops with captivating designs into your business casual wardrobe, but balance them with more classic and formal pieces for the rest of your outfit. Check out these handy tips on how to infuse your look with a hint of Tomboy Style, or opt for a Boho vibe if that's more your speed. Aim for sweaters with a classic appearance, and perhaps a trendy twist if you'd like. However, avoid thick, heavy sweaters, hoodies, and sweatshirts, as they lean too casual and aren't suitable for a business casual office setting.

For a business casual dress code, steer clear of tops that are overly tight, oversized, or transparent; tank tops; halter-tops; bare-shouldered shirts; garments with offensive words, phrases, logos, images, cartoons, or slogans; and t-shirts, unless they're paired with a jacket or cardigan. These styles are considered unsuitable for business casual outfits.

If all this seems overwhelming, don't worry! I can set up a personalized styling and shopping consultation, or you can explore your own closet to discover how to transform it into a more enjoyable and wearable experience.

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Business Casual Skirts, Dresses, and Overalls

For the business casual dress code, skirts should be knee or midi length and have a straight or slightly flared fit. This gives you plenty of options for business casual outfits. You can rock a pencil skirt, wraparound skirts, ruffled skirts, or skirts with or without slits – the choices are truly limitless.

Bear in mind that skirts or dresses should not be excessively short, long, tight, or transparent, as they won't align with the business casual style. To maintain an office-appropriate look, avoid overly fancy elements like sequins, lace, or shiny materials. Additionally, steer clear of skorts, denim skirts or dresses, sundresses, off-shoulder, one-shoulder, or sleeveless, and spaghetti-strap dresses, as they don't fit the business casual style.

Business Casual Pants and Jeans

When adhering to a business casual dress code, you have a variety of pant styles to pick from for your work wardrobe: straight-leg pants, wide-leg pants, peg-top pants, flared pants, long or cropped cuts, and options in cotton, wool, linen, or synthetic materials.

When selecting trousers for your business casual outfits, I'd suggest opting for basic or darker colors. For instance, bright orange pants might be too bold. Additionally, steer clear of overly active prints such as florals, polka dots, or paisley, as they can appear too casual for a business casual setting.

It's also important to avoid wearing sweatpants, track pants, leggings, shorts, cargo pants, pajamas, or silk pants for business casual outfits.

Generally, the business casual dress code doesn't include jeans, but if they're acceptable at your workplace, go for basic shades like dark blue, grey, or black, and stick to classic mid-rise, straight or flared cuts. Jeans can be a fantastic choice when permitted, as they can last for ages with the right care.

Jackets and Coats For a Business Casual Style

Choose a blazer or jacket with a classic, formal design but in a more casual material. This clever combination will help you achieve the business casual look. You don't have to stick to formal colors – feel free to experiment with vibrant shades like bright blue, white, or burgundy, as long as you pair them with neutral, business-like hues. Jackets with patterns such as stripes, plaids, herringbone, or houndstooth can also work well within a business casual office environment.

In terms of shape, aim for slim or slightly relaxed fits, but avoid fleeting fashion trends. For instance, skip out on oversized 80s-inspired shoulders that may be popular now but can appear odd in a business casual setting. Denim jackets, kimonos, and bomber jackets are too informal for business casual attire, so save them for your free time.

Business Casual Style: Shoes and Tights

There's a wide range of shoe styles that suit business casual attire for women, including pumps, heels, flats, medium heels, loafers, and even sneakers or trainers. It's simpler to list the shoes that aren't appropriate for business casual outfits: flip-flops, slippers, running shoes, or sandals. Additionally, overly fancy shoes such as patent leather, snakeskin, leopard print, bright red shoes, or over-the-knee boots are not suitable for the office. While business casual attire does permit sneakers, ensure they don't appear excessively sporty.

Business Casual Style: Bags

The size of your bag really comes down to what you need it for. If you need to carry a laptop and documents, go for an A4-sized bag to complement your business casual look. If you don't require extra space, a medium-sized bag will work well. Small bags and clutches can seem out of place in a business casual setting.

Bag shape can say a lot about your personality too. For example, structured, geometric shapes look more formal and give off an organized, professional vibe that fits business casual etiquette. On the contrary, bags without a defined shape might make you seem a bit messy and disorganized. As for colors, it's best to pick neutrals or deep, dark hues that vibe well with your work wardrobe's complementary colors.

Capsule Wardrobe for Women's Business Casual Styles

Here's a chic capsule wardrobe for autumn that's sure to spark inspiration for any woman looking to discover new business casual outfits. It features 2 dresses, 5 tops, and 4 bottoms that create 22 stunning work outfits that are perfectly suited for the business casual dress code. Plus, I'll help you find 2 jackets, 2 pairs of business casual shoes, and a bag that pairs perfectly with everything in the wardrobe.

You can discover how to assemble a business casual look that flatters your unique body type, color palette, and personal style by enrolling in the Wonder Wardrobe Video Course.

The Color Palette for Business Casual Outfits

For these looks, I chose a mostly cold and dark color palette. It may seem formal at first glance, but the idea is to maintain a calm and conservative complementary color scheme so that I can focus more on the designs themselves. Even the most subdued color palette can create beautiful and unexpected results within the boundaries of a business casual dress code.

My goal is to provide you with work-appropriate outfits that are both stylish and suitable. As you'll notice, none of the looks are overly formal or too casual - they strike a balance that reflects the professional, comfortable, and personal aspects of business casual attire.

I've also included a pair of business casual pants that resemble jeans, just to showcase how they can be styled for the dress code without looking too casual. You can mix and match pieces from your own wardrobe to create a more personalized business casual aesthetic.

The capsule features two jackets with differing shapes, fits, lengths, and colors that complement every outfit.

RELATED ARTICLE: Dresses & Skirts Capsule Wardrobe: 26 summer outfits.

The dresses in this collection are statement pieces with stunning designs that serve as a fantastic foundation for creating your own business casual outfits. My goal was to curate pieces that aren't overly drab or office-like, but instead, are fashionable and trendy while remaining appropriate for the business casual dress code.

LET’S CHAT

What is your favorite way to incorporate pops of color into a business casual outfit while still maintaining a calm and conservative color scheme?